Better Lives – Blog 1
Each of the lectures that I watched from the Better Lives series was successful in covering social responsibility, diversity, and sustainability through relevant examples centered around fashion and culture. These lectures allowed me to see past my personal work and assignments, and led me to consider how I could use my skills in ways that might impact more than just myself.
Claire Swift’s lecture on social responsibility was the presentation that I resonated with the most. She focused on the many ways fashion is able to connect us, and discussed her own philanthropic work that she conducted alongside LCF students. I was absolutely blown away by the number of projects Swift was involved in. I immediately grew interested in her work with incarcerated women. Swift discussed several projects that she worked on in local British prisons. They each addressed outstanding issues within the fashion industry, while remaining centered around enriching tasks for the women to partake in. As mentioned in her lecture, only 9% of women leave prison having secured employment, while that statistic jumps to 25% for male inmates. Seeing this as an opportunity to use fashion as a solution, Swift started the project Making for Change in collaboration with design students at LCF. The students taught women in UK prisons sewing skills, quality control, and other important skillsets. This led to smaller fashion brands and designers employing these workshops to ethically manufacture their products. What I admired most about the Making for Change project is that it not only exemplifies taking social responsibility, but it also promotes sustainability through its ethical production means, while also finding a way to benefit a diverse and commonly overlooked demographic.
Swift stressed the importance of understanding that our practice as artists extends beyond ourselves, and can be used for something much bigger. At LCF we are given the knowledge and skills needed to create change, however it is up to us to take that initiative. This lecture was a huge eye-opener for me. I am beginning to wonder what more I can be doing at this level in my practice, and how I can begin incorporating social responsibility into every new project I take on. Learning how Swift was able to benefit many troubled areas in the fashion industry through one project was inspiring to say the least. It can be quite easy to be overwhelmed by all of the issues that the world of fashion has both created and perpetuated, and to begin underestimating our ability to correct it. Though taking action one project at a time is a slow process, it is a necessary one. I am grateful to Swift for all of the positive change she has helped make, and for reminding me that even as a student, there are so many chances to use fashion as a tool for change through every opportunity I am faced with, big or small.
Swift, C. (2020) “Social Responsibility” [Lecture]. Better Lives, London College of Fashion, 14 February.